George Edgar Ohr Auction Prices and Value Guide
George Edgar Ohr auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 648 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
George Edgar Ohr auction prices: quick answer
George Edgar Ohr auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- George Edgar Ohr
- Source records
- 648
- Market update
- 2026-02-16
Artist context
About George Edgar Ohr
George Edgar Ohr (1857–1918) was an American ceramic artist who worked in Biloxi, Mississippi, and dubbed himself the "Mad Potter of Biloxi." Recognized as the first artist-potter in the United States by the Library of Congress, Ohr produced thousands of hand-thrown vessels between roughly 1880 and 1910 that defied the decorative conventions of his era. His pots feature paper-thin walls, dramatically twisted and ruffled rims, and experimental metallic glazes that anticipated modernist sculpture by decades. Largely overlooked during his lifetime, Ohr's work was rediscovered in the late twentieth century and is now held by major institutions including the Museum of Modern Art. Scholars have described him as a precursor to Abstract Expressionism for his rejection of symmetry and embrace of spontaneous, sculptural form. Collectors encounter his ceramics at auction with some frequency, reflecting his large output and enduring posthumous reputation.
American Art PotteryProto-Abstract Expressionism (retrospective attribution)ceramicsstonewareearthenwareabstract sculptural vesselsdecorative pottery
Common works and media
Ohr is best known for wheel-thrown ceramic vessels — vases, bowls, pitchers, teapots, and cups — characterized by paper-thin walls, undulating or ruffled rims, and twisted, asymmetrical bodies. He worked primarily in earthenware and stoneware with experimental metallic, lustrous, and earth-toned glazes. His output also includes novelty items, face jugs, and presentation pieces. Most works are individually thrown and unique; no standardized editions exist. Collectors should expect one-of-a-kind objects rather than series or multiples.
Market and appraisal context
George Edgar Ohr's ceramics command a well-established auction market spanning 2008–2025, with 36 recorded lots (29 priced) across eight named auction houses including Christie's, Bonhams, Rago Arts and Auction Center, Cottone Auctions, and Selkirk Auctioneers & Appraisers. Realized prices range from $496 for smaller bisque-fired pieces at regional houses to $15,240 for a circa-1897–1900 pitcher at Christie's in December 2025. The median price sits at $1,708 with a 25th–75th percentile band of $915–$2,728, reflecting a market where most individual vessels trade in the low four figures. The strongest results cluster around complex sculptural forms — tall twin-handled vases, ruffle-rim vessels, and pinched or folded pitchers — while simpler mugs and smaller glazed pieces tend to trade below $1,000. Liquidity is moderate: four lots appeared in the most recent 12-month window (September–December 2025) after a period of thinner appearance, indicating renewed but intermittent availability. Major-house results (Christie's, Bonhams) significantly outprice regional sales, suggesting that venue and cataloging quality meaningfully influence realized prices for this artist.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Common auction categories
- ceramics
- stoneware
- earthenware
- American Art Pottery
- decorative pottery
Value drivers
- Form complexity — Ohr's twisted, pinched, and ruffled rims are the most sought-after signatures; more restrained utilitarian wares carry less premium
- Glaze quality and type — distinctive metallic, lustrous, and experimental glazes increase desirability
- Provenance — documented exhibition history or descent from the Ohr family or known collectors strengthens attribution and value
- Condition — hairline cracks, chips, or repairs significantly affect value in this fragile medium
- Attribution authenticity — unsigned or previously unrecorded pieces require expert connoisseurship due to Ohr's idiosyncratic but sometimes imitated style
- Form complexity — twisted, ruffled, folded, and pinched forms consistently outperform simpler shapes; the Christie's $15,240 pitcher and Bonhams $14,000 twin-handled vase both feature complex sculptural manipulation
Appraisal caveats
- Ohr's market has seen significant appreciation since the 1970s rediscovery of his work; auction results should be interpreted across time with caution.
- Unsigned works attributed to Ohr require specialist authentication; auction listings may reflect attribution rather than confirmed authorship.
- The dataset of 29 priced lots over 2008–2025 is moderate; extrapolating market trends from this sample carries inherent uncertainty, especially across different economic cycles.
- Ohr's market has appreciated significantly since the 1970s rediscovery of his work; historical auction results (e.g., 2008–2011 Rago lots) may underrepresent current values and should be time-adjusted when used as comparables.
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- Library of Congress library authority
- Wikidata library authority
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- VIAF library authority
- Wikipedia wikipedia
- RKD — Netherlands Institute for Art History library authority
Data basis
This page is built from Appraisily's public auction market index. Private transactions, incomplete sale feeds, and attribution changes may not be fully represented.
Artist value FAQ
How much is George Edgar Ohr worth?
Comparable public auction sales are the best starting point, but final value depends on the specific artwork, condition, size, medium, provenance, and attribution confidence.
Can Appraisily value my George Edgar Ohr artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.